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Not surprisingly, wine region culture so often seeds a strong food culture and vice versa. The two simply go hand in hand. Australia’s reputation as a premium wine-producing country is undisputed. Wine lovers from around the world are drawn to the ‘home’ of the wines they have tried, savoured and loved. The Louise in the Barossa Valley and Cape Lodge in the Margaret River, offer an entrée to these prestigious and emerging wine regions, and very often, a personal connection with the winemakers and characters who live there. This itinerary offers world-class wine experiences together with warm and knowledgeable hospitality alongside culinary excellence and luxury accommodation.

CAPE LODGE Margaret River, Western Australia

Cape Lodge private estate and boutique lodge sits within 40 acres on its own vineyard in the heart of the Margaret River wine region. This premium wine region by the sea has a strong reputation for fine gastronomic flavours and spectacular scenery, where rolling vineyards sit against a backdrop of ocean and forest.

The region offers a fine supply of world-class wineries, boutique breweries, and restaurants overlooking sweeping vineyards and surf breaks. While the region’s 60 plus wineries produce less than one per cent of Australian wine, they are responsible for over 15% of the country’s premium wine. With its maritime influenced climate the Margaret River wine region is highly regarded as a producer for its elegant Cabernet Sauvignon and has forged a great reputation for its Chardonnay and Semillon Sauvignon Blanc.

What will I do there?

  • Best of the Best Wine Tour – a sophisticated behind the scenes wine tour often referred to as “The wine tour for people who don’t do tours”. No minivans, no crowds; this tour represents personalised touring at its best. 
  • Gourmet Weekends are also scheduled throughout the year bringing together winemakers, food producers and lovers of food and wine with master classes, tastings and winemaker dégustation.
  • Gain an exclusive look into the history of the Cape Lodge Estate and its evolution into a hotel with its own premium vineyard in the heart of Margaret River wine country. Walk through the vines, taste the current release and learn about the viticultural practises.
  • Spend time visiting a multitude of award winning, family owned wineries. Cape Lodge neighbours include the great wineries of Vasse Felix, Moss Wood, Pierro and Cullen.

For further information, visit Cape Lodge.

THE LOUISE Barossa Valley, South Australia

The Louise – an idyllic luxury vineyard retreat, encompassing acclaimed restaurant Appellation, is situated on a gentle hill surrounded by hundreds of acres of vines, with breathtaking vistas across the Barossa Valley. Home to more than 100 wineries, the Barossa is a vibrant community with a rich 160-year old culinary, cultural and architectural heritage.

The Barossa is rightly famed for its wine, and there are dozens of bespoke wine tastings, blendings and experiences, many with a private winemaker introduction made by the team at The Louise for guests. Guests will discover amazing wines, meet warm local characters and fall in love some of the world’s most engaging wine country.

What will I do there?

  • Legend of Seppeltsfield Tour – take a private tour of historic family winery Seppeltsfield Estate, with a vineyard tour, private wine tasting and sampling your birth-year Vintage Tawny Port.
  • Appellation features a nightly wine-paired Chef’s Tasting Menu and believes that the sum of ‘food + wine’ should be greater than the individual parts and that wine is a finished product. A series of dishes created to pair with specific wines, creating a unique marriage, with ingredients directed by the season. The Sommelier at Appellation can also assist with any pre-dinner wine questions you may have, can decant ahead of time that special bottle you discovered in your travels or advise you on the 400+ wine list.
  • Henschke wines – explore parts of the original winery built in the 1860s before settling into your private tasting room to enjoy a range of Henschke wines, including The Wheelwright, Cyril Henschke, Mount Edelstone, plus rare access to taste Hill of Roses and Hill of Grace..
  • Travel through the Barossa Valley on a personalised Two Hands Vineyard Experience, tasting their acclaimed Single Vineyard wines in the exact vineyards from which they were produced.
  • Harvest with Izway Wines – join a full day seasonal tour which runs during the Barossa wine harvest, offering an up-close experience of artisanal winemaking, a private wine tasting and lunch. The harvest season is one of the best times to visit the Barossa – the seasonal tempo and energy is palpable. This experience gives you the chance to connect with the true heart of the region from a perspective rarely seen by wine lovers.

For further information, visit The Louise.

Travel tip  – For further inspiration, our Signature Experiences colleagues at Ultimate Winery Experiences offer unique wine experiences including barrel, private and structured tastings, food-wine matching, wine education and gastronomy in spectacular locations within these renowned wine regions.

See here for a downloadable itinerary and how to travel between the lodges.